IWSG: Happy Birthday, to US! HaPpY bIrThDaY to us... Happy birth day happy birthday.....

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IWSG: a place where writers and friends share woes or hugs.

Welcome to mine!

September - The IWSG celebrates 12 years today! When did you discover the IWSG, how do you connect, and how has it helped you?

Thank you awesome co-hosts: Sonia Dogra, J Lenni Dorner, Pat Garcia, Sarah - The Faux Fountain Pen, and Meka James!


Well, let's see--12 years puts us at about 2011! I joined us roughly around that time, too. Nice, right? That was about when my first book was published, and I dove into the publishing world. The A, B, Cs of April was how I stepped into us, and it was amazing! Do we still do that? I'm so out of touch! Haha...

It has helped me on so many levels. Belonging to something bigger than myself when it comes to books helps to connect with so many like-minded people who share and love the craft of writing.

IWSG is so caring and supportive and doesn't hoard secrets like some other writerly groups do. Honestly, belonging here with the writing trade, there's no "secreting" anything.

I've made long-term friends like Alex! Yay! And it's cool that my publisher is part of us as well. What do you know? We get places! We rock. I love you guys!

If you aren't part of us, please join us. We are a caring community of writers on all levels. It doesn't matter where you are in the journey, we are family!

What about you? Tell me your experience with IWSG. I'd love to hear all about it!

IWSG: Inspiration and Freedom

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IWSG: a place where writers and friends share woes or hugs.

Welcome to mine!

 Thank you, IWSG co-hosts for the July 5: PJ Colando, Kim Lajevardi, Gwen Gardner, Pat Garcia, and Natalie Aguirre!

Here is July's optional question - 99% of my story ideas come from dreams. Where do yours predominantly come from?

JoshuaWoroniecki@Pixabay.com

My daughter shares the same avenue for her story-writing as the author of this month's question. As for me, all my stories are borne from inspiration imagined by scenarios from snippets of movie scenes, someone giving a talk, a person's appearance, an emotion that creeps up on me, an old building--anything... Sometimes my brain will compile an entire scene or image, and I build the story around that.

On another note, July is Independence month! Celebration for independence comes to us in many ways. Life has taken a crazy but good turn for me, and I find myself with a new set of wings that are taking me higher than before.

Andrew@Pexels.com

Sometimes we recognize what holds us back, and it takes special power to cut that part out despite the painful process.

I've noticed a trend in my writing: everyone therein fights for freedom in one way or another, it's fascinating.

One story that stands out is Awaken: A Love Story, where Daemos is thrown into the thick of ugly and finds N'reena recognizes it for what it is. Running away together isn't easy, but there's no turning back...

Please celebrate with us how freedom must be won against the dark secrets that rule their society!

What about you? How does your inspiration visit you? Do you have the original ideas that sparked a best-seller? In what ways are you celebrating Independence Day if at all?

What Would Replace Writing if it Ever Could?

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IWSG: a place where writers and friends share woes or hugs.

Welcome to mine!

Thank you, cohosts Patrcia Josephine, Diedre Knight, Olga Godim, J. Lenni Dorner, and Cathrina Constantine!

June's question - If you ever did stop writing, what would you replace it with?

Well, I have to admit that I have stopped writing, and in the middle of a story, too! It had an outline and everything and I'm a pantser. *sigh*

I'll tell you what I've replaced it with, and it's self-care. There's no creative outlet right now, but I've been filling my life with meaningful relationships and strengthening the ones I already have. It's quite the remarkable journey.

I know that when I'm ready to pick back up on my writing, there'll be no stopping, because I already  know what it takes to get a book off the ground.

What about you? Has writing ever evaded you to the point that you lost interest? What replaced it? If no, what do you think would?

Please enjoy my latest book's aesthetic book trailers!

IWSG: Author Envy

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IWSG: a place where writers and friends share woes or hugs.

Welcome to mine!

March question - Have you ever read a line in novel or a clever plot twist that caused you to have author envy?

Thank you, March co-hosts Diedre Knight, Tonya Drecker, Bish Denham, Olga Godim, and JQ Rose!

by Pexels@Pixabay.com

We, authors, are a different creature altogether whenever reading a book. Rarely do we separate our minds as writers while we read--we silently take notes on character exposition, plot structure, word play, word repetition, grammar usage, misspelled words, formatting choice, etc. We silently study with a critical eye the font used inside the book, along with the manipulated  photos that create the cover...

On some occasion, when a line jumps out or a plot twist catches us (as stated in this month's question), we admire--possibly lament!--how the writer crafts such cleverness. This happens as the muse whispers the inspired words or events that whip the stories about to create a cohesive reading experience.

All this is done on a subconscious level, whether fully aware or not--at least that's how I approach books.

Much of the time, whenever I read a genre I admire (Regency Romance), I envy the writer on the authority they have on the subject! But I know that it comes with research, study, and experience--something I've done but for the Renaissance Era.

by Jon Tyson@Unsplash.com

To outright answer this month's question, I don't remember feeling envious but awe as I stumble across inspiring lines. Clever plot twists catch my breath, but I don't typically become envious.

Some exciting news! Awaken: A Love Story on kindlevella, published its very last episode Sunday the 26th! Now to wait 30 days before I can publish it as a paperback...

How about you? Do you have author envy whenever you encounter a clever plot twist or a certain line?

IWSG: Book Covers as an Indie and Traditional Author

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IWSG: a place where writers and friends share woes or hugs.

February Question - If you are an Indie author, do you make your own covers or purchase them? If you publish trad, how much input do you have about what goes on your cover?


The February co-hosts are Jacqui Murray, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Pat Garcia, and Gwen Gardner! Thank you!

As an indie author, I've enjoyed creating my own book covers. It's not a simple process! There's searching for the right image with the right background along with fitting characters. Sometimes I cut and paste them and make them fit! But before I pick anything out, I weigh out in my mind what would make the best window to my book. Would it be the climax? The theme? Just the character?

Then there's the font! Font has personality and quietly reveals the feel of the story. Along with font, the title. Does the title portray your story accurately? Will you have a subtitle or a tagline? What sort of font will you choose for the author name? Will your name be on the same line or will you stack it?

Everything must harmonize! A lot of the times indie authors try not to cover the image, framing it with their name and title so that there's a lot of space in between. To me, that screams indie author! I say, don't be afraid to have font smack, dab in the middle. Do compare your cover to the genre you're writing in. How does the font compare? The images? What about the colors?

As for the traditional side of things, I've not really had a say in it if the publisher is on the bigger side. There are times where I've been impressed and other times where I wish I could hide under a rock! So, it depends on the publisher whether or not you get to share input or not.

As an illustrator for a publisher I'd worked for, I collaborated with the authors to create their cover and ran it by the publisher for approval. It wasn't always easy, because some of the authors couldn't make up their minds sometimes.

For those who've published either way, what experience do you have that you'd like to share?